Introducing our DiamondBack™ 4x4, a powerful addition to Telecast's popular DiamondBack II broadcast-quality NTSC/PAL video multiplexer line. Designed to offer the same cost-effective video multiplexing as its predecessor, the DiamondBack 4x4 provides greater flexibility with the ability to handle four bidirectional NTSC/PAL channels, plus private, dedicated 10/100 Ethernet connectivity and support of the company’s Adder™ line of audio, intercom, and data multiplexers.
“Our goal in creating the DiamondBack 4x4 was to extend the system’s feature set while providing broadcasters with the reliable performance and compact footprint that make the DiamondBack II a leading choice for transporting signals to and from announce booths,” said Eugene Baker, CTO of Telecast Fiber Systems. “Packaged in just 1 RU, the DiamondBack 4x4 is a compact yet powerful tool that features even more ways to put video, audio, data, and intercom channels onto just one optical fiber.”
The DiamondBack 4x4 is a lightweight, portable multiplexer primarily intended for handling broadcast announce-booth feeds, courtesy and utility video, monitoring and surveillance feeds, and corporate and educational video distribution applications, among others. With bidirectional transport comes the ability to provide a 10/100-Mbps Ethernet connection, which is increasingly important as networks expand their use of IP infrastructures for live scoring, as in golf or racing, or for streaming broadcasts. Support for the coaxial input and output that is a part of every Telecast Adder™ audio multiplexing system further reduces the amount of fiber required for a broadcast and makes the DiamondBack 4x4 a complete trunk link for all signals.
The system features an optional integrated optical switch that provides for full optical redundancy. Dual DC power inputs allow for electrical redundancy. Each TX video input has a loop output and each RX video has dual outputs, minimizing the need for additional video DAs. A front-panel display indicates the received optical power. All video sources can be monitored from a convenient front-panel BNC. In addition, this new DiamondBack includes a private “service channel” that provides for convenient point-to-point headset communications, ideal for faxing.
